Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-02-18

Nuo NOLioiioiiNlo ~ WI W. e''Ns
its site he built the first cathedral
which was removed by Philip IL.
OF spain and the present structure
was erected on the same site In
1873. The material alone cost
| 50, 100000. The labor not being
counted, rs most OF it, through
! devotion TO the faith. WAS gratis.
Tho building is 42S fee, long by
20S feet wide aad is $50 feet to the
top OF the twin towers. The roof
and grand dome are susta ined by
ninety quadruple pillars each be-
ing thirty feet in circumference.
There are five naves, fifteen
chapels, and forty priests can say
mass at the same time on the vari-
Gus altars. The main Chapel con-
tains the great organ, which nas
5000 pipes and covers as much
space as medium sized dwelling,
while the adornments over the top
are higher than many church
steeples. The music from this
instrument during high mass,
when aided by the large choir of
select, trained singers, is, | sup
pose, hardly surpassed on the
Western Continent. From it
there is carpeted way inclosed
by gilded railing leading to
THE HIGH ALTAR
This was at one time the richest
altar in the world. 1t then had a
lamp worth $4,000 and Statue
of the Assumption made of pure
gold, and inlaid with diamonds,
making the whole cost over
81, 100000. 1t is shorn of much
of Its ancient grandeur
yet enough remains to make itstill
frank among the finest in the
world. 1t, with the others of the
Cathedrals, in the days of their
grandeur, had twenty chalices and
six vessels of gold in which were
served the wine and water ct mass.
There were also 1872 rubies and
1916 diamonds with "a ounces of
gold about them. One chalice had
l22 diamonds, 143 emeralds, with
156 ounces OF gold trimming about
it. There We're also two gold yes
sels in which was burned the per-
famed and sacred incense, besides
there was an image of the concep-
ton made of pure silver and 9TH
ers of gold. The principal reli-
quarry or chest for the relics was
adorned with 265l emeralds, Al
rubies, eight sapphires, besides
many other precious stones some
OF which yet remain, but only as
q shadow OF the wealth and splen-
dor which the kings of Spain Law
ished upon the churches founded
by the conquerors The altar is
circular in form, stands near the
center Of the building and towers
almost up to the starry dome
above. 1t is enclosed by costly
railing, the posts of which are
crowned with statues, each OF
which holds candle stick in one
hand, while there is a cross, q
crown, staff or an open bible in
the other In other places there
are large candle sticks with can.
} dies, some of which are eight OF
! ten inches in diameter and ter
feet high. The altar tapers from
the base to the top by successiv.
platforms. The first contains the
altar clothes chalice-cups &c
! while the second is covered by bill.
lowy clouds upon which beautiful
angel forms are looking down up
on the altar. The next is sustain.
ed by eight columns covered with
green stucco and richly adorned
} with FURNISHED, metallic gauze
around the base.
On the next platform
we find statu S of the apos-
ties, the early christian fathers and
various evangelists. The whole
is beautifully adorned with wax
flowers in glass cases and numer-
Gus other floral designs in wood
and metal; while the top is covered
by a mass of billowy clouds upon
which the Virgin is seated as
Queen of the heavens, and the
image seems more majestic and
supernatural, when we look above
and beyond, into the starry dome
over head.
THE SIDE AFFAIRS
are also richly adorned with stat
ues and paintings of the Virgin
and Child, various saints and the
crucitix, most of which are life
size and the heads are partly en-
circled by halo of polished met
al, and before which there is an
arch of candles burning; thus the
dazzling brilliancy of the halo is
often too bright to look upon. At
the feet of these images there is
usually a sacred fire OF perfumed
incense kept constantly burning.
The various stations of the cross
are represented. In one an image